Shoulder-rest for violins.



G. BBISHEIM.

SHOULDER BEST FOR VIOLINS.

APPLICATION FILED 00ccv 15,1908.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

FIG.2.

FIG.6

INVENTQR:

PHGYO-LIYHOGRWMERS. 2'

WITNESSES:

ucaew. s. emu ca UNITED STATES PATENT erases.

GEORGE BEISHEIM, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

SHOULDER-REST FOR VIOLINS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE Bmsnnnr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoulder- Txests for Violins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoulder-rests for violins, and has for its object a rest that is ad ustable.

A further object is that it shall be detachable without disturbing its adjustment.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the device, showing it attached to a violin; Fig. 2 is a top plan of the device alone; Fig. 3 is a longitudii'ial section of a modified form; Fig. 4 is a top plan of the latter; Fig. 5 is an exterior elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1, showing the parts in different position from that in which they are shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line G of Fig. 1; and F ig. 7 is a bottom plan of a detail appearing in Figs. 1 and The shoulder-rest pr per consists of a pad of coinprer ihle material -1, that has a covering 2 of some suitable material like velvet, and that is adapted in size and shape to fit within the hollow of the shoulder, below the collar-bone. The pad is backed by a Hat. plate I"). which preferably is oval shaped 2). In the construction shown in 1 and 2, a ring t is fixed to the under side of this plate by means of screws 5, which 10lClS in place the edge of the cover 2 1n the top of the plate 3 is a circular groove (3, adapted to receive a support or carrier which is best made in the form of a ball 7. A cover 8 closes said. groove, and has a circular opening 9 through which the said ball partially projects. A stud-bolt 10 extends through the cover 8 and enters the plate lVhen said stud-bolt is screwed down, the ball 7 is pinched tightly within the groove 6, between the cover 8 and the plate 3, so that it can not move from its position until the stud 10 is again loosened. The ball may be knurled on its surface to facilitate the clamping action.

The bolt 11 that projects axially from the ball 7, and by which the pad is attached to the bracket 12, is screw-threaded therein, so that it is adjustable and may be locked by a nut 13. The bracket 12 in turn is adapted Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 16, 1908.

Serial NO. 258, 127.

to slide into a socket 1% that is clamped to tl e back of a violin A, thereby detachably connecting the pad to the violin. Any sultable clamps may be used for attaching said ends in the usual way by a bar 16 which bears against the socket 1%. At their upper ends the rods 15 engage the china-est B. Pieces of felt 17 usually are placed between he socket 1%: and the violin to form a frictional binding surface, and turnbuckles 1S a'fiord means of tightening the rods 15 so as to clamp the said socketto the back, and accordingly the chin-rest to the front of the violin. As the clamp is tightened, it compresses the felt 17, so that it protrudes through the slot 1% in the socket 14 as shown in Fig. 1, thereby holding said socket more firmly against movement. The downwardly turned lip 14", which overhangs the bar 16, also holds the socket 1 tagainst movement.

The socket l t and the chin-rest B, when once attached, need not be removed when the violin is placed within its and it is ol vious that the adjustment of the shoulderrest, which must be removed, need not be disturbed when detached.

YVhen the bracket 12 slides into the socket 14, and takes its proper position, a hump on the spring tongue 19 snaps into a perforation 20 in the said socket, and acts a latch to hold the two parts together until forcibly pulled apart.

The pad is adjusted by manipulating it while the stud 10 and nut 13 are loose, till it finds the right position on the shoulder, when the said stud and nut are tightened and hold it there. Again, by making the groove 6 eccentric to the plate 3, it becomes possible to set the bolt 11 at various distances from the edges of the pad.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the pad 1 is backed by flat plates 21 and 22 that clamp between them the in'turned edge of the cover 2. The inner plate 22 may lave an upturned edge as shown, to cover the edge of the plate 21, in order to protect the instrument from scratching. Holes 24 are made in the plate 21 at different points, all of which are screw-threaded to receive the screw-threaded end of the stud 25 that projects from the knurled ball 26, and a nut 27 on said stud is used to lock it in place.

Patented A11 31, 1909.

In this modified form, the ball 26 is inclosed within a shell or case 28, and the latter carries a set-screw 29 by which it is fastened in place upon the ball. A lug 30 eX- tends upwardly at an angle from the shell 28, and joins a slotted bracket 31 by an adjustable pin and slot connection 32. In other respects the bracket 31 is the same as the bracket 12 described above, and is adapted to enter the socket 14 in the same manner. The adjustment of this form of the device is obtained by selecting the proper hole 24 for the stud 25, and then tilting the pad around to the proper position and tightening the set-screw 29.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a bracket adapted to be removably attached to a violin, of a shoulder-rest; a universal joint for connecting said bracket and rest; and means for holding said bracket and rest in the position desired with reference to each other.

2. The combination with a bracket adapted to be removably attached to a violin, of a shoulder-rest; a ball and socket joint for connecting said bracket and rest; and means for clamping the ball within its socket.

3. The combination with a bracket adapted to be removably attached to a violin, of a shoulder-rest having a back adapted for attachment to said bracket; and means for securing said bracket to the back of said rest at different points.

4. The combination with a bracket adapted to be removably attached to a violin, of a shoulder-rest having a back adapted for attachment to said bracket; a universal joint for connecting said bracket and rest; and means for securing said joint to the back of said rest at different points.

5. The combination with a bracket adapted for attachment to a violin, and having a ball projecting therefrom, of a shoulder-rest, having a clamp adapted to receive said ball.

6. The combination with a bracket adapted for attachment to a Violin, of a stem, carrving at one end a ball and at the other end attached to said bracket by a lengthwise ad justable connection; and a shoulder-rest having a clamp adapted to receive said ball.

7. The combination with a brac ret adapted for attachment to a violin, and having a ball projecting therefrom, of a shoulderrest having on its back a groove, adapted to receive said ball; and a clamp adapted to retain said ball in any desired position.

8. The combination with a bracket adapted for attachment to a violin, and having a ball projecting therefrom, of a shoulder-rest having on its back a curved groove, adapted to receive said ball; and a clamp adapted to retain the ball in any desired position.

The combination with a bracket adapted for attachment to a violin, and having a ball projecting therefrom, of a shoulder-rest having on its back a curved groove that is eccentric with respect to the cener of said pad, adapted to receive said ball; and a clamp adapted to retain the ball in any desired position.

10. The combination with a bracket adaptfor attachment to a violin, of a stem carrying a ball and detachably connected with said bracket; :1 shoulder-rest, having on its back a groove adapted to receive said ball; a plate covering said groove perforated to contain said stem, and adapted to clamp said ball in any desired position; and means for tightening said plate upon said ball.

GEORGE BEISHEIM.

lVitnesses C. S. DAVIS, D. GURNEE. 

